Maiden voyage with my new Oehler 35P / printer. The "sun screens" did more to keep the rain off the sensors, I kept the printer under a hat. My stuff is drying out . . .

Targets were dissolving in the rain. But I got some "OK" data:

Rem. PSS, .223 AI, 23" bbl. (stock Rem. bbl.) Springfield Govt. Tactical 4-14x 40mm scope.

45 gr Hornady Hornet 0.224" dia. soft-point, NO moly.

Winchester brass, fire formed, neck turned, trimmed to 1.760" (max length), 2.260" OAL, seated against the lands. Flash hole de-burred, primer pocket uniformed, necks polished, neck tension at 0.002".

Federal #205 primer -- small rifle

Hodgdon H-335
Hodgdon Data Manual # 26 [1992] shows a MAX load of 26.2 gr. / 3456 fps [26" bbl] for this bullet in .223 Rem.

26.0 gr. = 3273 fps -- 9 rds.

27.0 gr. = 3375 fps -- 15 rds.

28.0 gr. = 3485 fps -- 15 rds.

28.5 gr. = 3541 fps -- 15 rds.

29.0 gr. = 3603 fps -- 10 rds.

29.5 gr. = 3665 fps -- 10 rds.

No pressure signs whatever, none.

No indication that load is reaching "bore capacity." Gains in velocity appear to be in straight-line slope.

22-250 cal. for this bullet weight runs 3908 fps for H-335 powder.

We need more work-up for optimum load. This is the first data with this rechambered rifle and brass.

Grouping well, but weather conditions were turning targets into mush. Groups estimated sub MOA and likely 8's . . . It's me, the weather, and a new load that needs work.

More forthcoming . . .

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.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
http://www.hotboards.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=223ackleyimproved

Same bullets/powder/primer/brass. Winchester trimmed to 1.750" and neck turned.

30.0 gr. H-335 / 45 gr. bullet. 30 rds. I expect 3727 fps.

30.5 gr. H-335 / 45 gr. bullet. 30 rds. expected 3790 fps.

31.0 gr. H-335 / 45 gr. bullet. 10 rds. expected 3850 fps.

This last load at 31 gr. derived from Steve Timm's article in Varmint Hunter #21 (I don't have the date). Timm shoots 40 gr. Nosler BT with 31.0 gr. and gets a 'slight hesitation at bolt lift.' But he reports no other pressure signs. Timm would hesitate to use this load in hot weather. I expect this to be the top end load and so prepared only ten rds.

Timm's 30.3 gr. load generated a velocity of 3900 fps. My data for MY RIFLE seems to indicate a lower velocity. I'm shooting a Rem. 700 PSS with the 'stock' bbl. at 23" set back and rechambered to AI.

OAL is 2.260" and bullets set against the lands.

I should have some chrono and target data for these loads by mid week, May 1 or so.

------------------
.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
http://www.hotboards.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=223ackleyimproved

This load combination seems to top out at about 29.5 grs. H-335. Velocity seems to
approach 'bore capacity.' The load gains only 30 fps between 30.0 gr. and 30.5 gr.
This load had been gaining about 62 fps per 1/2 gr. increment.

Note that primer flow at 30.5 gr and 31.0 gr. resulted in shooting only five rounds and
one round respectively at these charges.

30.0. gr = 3745 fps mean velocity. Some very slight flow of primer into firing pin
hole.

30.5 gr = 3775 fps mean velocity. More primer flow.

30.5 gr = 3933 fps -- only one round fired at this load. Here's a link to what the primer
looks like:

--http://pages.chatropolis.com/general/geo/primer.jpg--

And ya gotta delete the dashes at each end, cut and paste the link -- because Chatropolis is a complete ass about links. And because the software in this forum likes to automatically create links out of URL's.

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.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
http://www.hotboards.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=223ackleyimproved

[This message has been edited by Genghis (edited 05-01-2002).]

I got a primer to look like that once.
I necked 308 to 243 and a bullet got pinched.
The primer pocket got alot bigger and the primer stuck to the bolt and looked like that.

That was the last time I pulled the trigger on a rifle, a month ago. It really shook me up.